Jang Jae-hyun's Third Film Starring Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun Breaks Records, Surpassing '12.12: The Day'

Courtesy of Showbox

The occult thriller film "Exhuma" achieved remarkable success at the Korean box office over the weekend, surpassing 2 million ticket sales within four days of its release on Thursday. This feat outpaced the previous record held by the 2023 hit historical drama "12.12: The Day," which reached 2 million admissions in six days. Distributor Showbox reported that "Exhuma" sold one million tickets on Saturday alone. 

▲ A scene from "Exhuma" / Courtesy of Showbox

Directed and written by Jang Jae-hyun, "Exhuma" marks his third film following "The Priests" (2015) and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019). The horror film features acclaimed actor Choi Min-sik, known for "Oldboy" (2003), alongside Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun, making his first appearance on the silver screen.

Kim Go-eun portrays Hwa-rim, a shaman, while Lee Do-hyun plays her partner medium, Bong-gil. The plot revolves around their response to a request from a Korean family in the United States troubled by hauntings. Believing the issue stems from their family's ancestors, the duo, accompanied by a feng shui expert and an undertaker, exhumes the ancestors' grave. However, unsettling events, including deaths and possessions, unfold after something escapes from the coffin.

"Exhuma" premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, on Feb. 16, as part of the Forum section showcasing experimental films. This recognition follows in the footsteps of acclaimed films like Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" (2013) and Kim Tae-yong's "Late Autumn" (2010), which were honored in the same category at previous festivals.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com